New Brunswick Nature Park caters to kayaks, canoes

Tuesday

Dec 22, 2009 at 9:50 AM

The area’s newest park, Brunswick Nature Park, opened Dec. 5. I was really excited that it would have a specially designed kayak/canoe launch and plenty of walking trails.

The area’s newest park, Brunswick Nature Park, opened Dec. 5. I was really excited that it would have a specially designed kayak/canoe launch and plenty of walking trails.So I drove out twice last week to see what it was all about.It’s very easy to find. A wide entrance with a big sign sits just off N.C. 133. If you’re coming from Wilmington, it’s on the right-hand side just before you reach the former Gator Hole gas station.Brunswick County Parks and Recreation obviously spent a lot of time and effort on the entrance road. It’s wide and although made of gravel, it’s pretty smooth.The first time I explored the area, I looked desperately for walking trails. There are no directional signs in the park. But that wouldn’t have helped any way. On my second trip, I called parks director Jim Pryor who told me the trails haven’t been made yet.The park is only in its first phase of construction, which means the roads are cut, a few parking lots are built, a picnic shelter is finished and the kayak/canoe launch is in operation. There are also a few benches and picnic tables placed in strategic locations.Other than that, there’s not much else to see. But the potential for this piece of land is incredible.The park encompasses 911 acres. Quite a bit of it is pine forest, but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of hardwoods – turkey oaks, gums and even a few live oaks are scattered about.So far, it seems the park consists of two long roads that form a “T” in the middle of the property where the picnic shelter is located. On my first trip, I took the right turn at this intersection and drove for quite a way before having to put the Jeep in four-wheel-drive to cross a big mud puddle.On my second trip I turned to the left and found the kayak/canoe launch.This is not just some smooth mud slide on the creek bank. It’s a floating dock with a launch that is made especially for paddling. The launch has rollers that make getting in and out of the water very easy. I haven’t used it yet, but it looks like paddlers can use their hands to slide in and out safely. In my opinion, you’re more likely to fall overboard when the boat’s half-in-the-water on a creek bank and it rocks from side-to-side like a cradle. The launch has a “V” shape to it, which does away with all that.And Town Creek is absolutely beautiful here with flat black water surrounded by woods. If you go straight at that main intersection you come to a road that follows a long string of power poles. I didn’t see much other than pine trees down there. But it’s still very pretty country.Pryor said they plan to put up signs to identify the launch. And when phase two begins, they’ll start cutting the walking and horse-riding trails.When that will be, Pryor couldn’t say. There’s no money budgeted for phase two so far. He said they even have a restroom “kind of on layaway” in Arizona. The county put a deposit on one in 2005 but hasn’t fully purchased it yet. Until that happens, visitors can use a few blue portable toilets in the parking lots.Meanwhile, I plan to use the kayak/canoe launch quite a bit on the warmer days and can’t wait for a little bass fishing.

Amy Hotz: 343-2099On Twitter.com: @AmyHotz

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